Ultrasound
“Ultrasound does not have a role in spinal diseases as yet. There are no data to suggest that it is good for visualizing any structures in the spine,” Dr. Marzo-Ortega said.
Where ultrasound does have a role is in evaluating peripheral joints. “There is definitely a place in spondyloarthritis/ankylosing spondylitis to look for enthesitis in the peripheral joints, and also—as in rheumatoid arthritis—to assess bone damage or synovitis.” So when patients present with axial and peripheral disease, ultrasound can be useful to look for subclinical or entheseal disease in the peripheral joints.
By Kerri Wachter
X-ray fails to show abnormalities in an HLA-B27-positive patient with AS.
MRI shows bone marrow edema (white arrows) in the same patient. PHOTOS COURTESY DR. HELENA MARZO-ORTEGA